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Our thriving and growing economy
Planning priority 9 – Improving our infrastructure and becoming a location of choice
The proximity of Sydney and Newcastle and connection via the Pacific Highway, coupled with affordable land, makes the MidCoast region particularly attractive to light industrial, and freight and logistic industries. These opportunities will increase with the development of the Northern Gateway Transport project which will see Taree develop as a hub for freight and logistics, while reducing freight costs in and out of the MidCoast. Planning is underway to include the site in an industrial zone to support transport-related industries. Council will continue to work with the NSW Government to provide road infrastructure improvements to link this site to the Pacific Highway. Additional industrial precincts are being planned in close proximity to the Pacific Highway, for example in Taree South. The precincts will enable easy access to the Pacific Highway and reduce the movement of freight through nearby towns. Inter-regional connections are important to support economic growth and providing access to existing industrial areas such as the Gloucester industrial area. Council will continue to work with the NSW Government to recognise the importance of The Lakes Way, The Bucketts Way and Thunderbolts Way as significant freight and tourism routes, and the North Coast Rail Line, all of which connect the MidCoast with other regions. The Manning Base Hospital provides medical services for the MidCoast, and is a significant employer that attracts service industries nearby. The Manning Health/Taree CBD Precinct Plan aims to increase the number of support businesses and services, particularly medical, around the Manning Base Hospital. The precinct expands over the adjoining Taree town centre to enhance the connectivity between these two areas. The plan will provide a new planning framework, along with improvements to our main streets and parks, which will add vibrancy to the Taree town centre. Taree Regional Airport has flights direct to Sydney, and supports local aviation industries. The Taree Aviation Business Park provides serviced lots for aviation activities. Further opportunities exist for aviation-related industries along Lansdowne Road, airport living on surrounding rural lands and improved tourist facilities at the nearby Dawson River Caravan Park and Airport Tavern site. Developing these options around the airport will contribute to the viability of this important airport. The Infrastructure Zones Review examines the planning controls that apply to infrastructure like water services, hospitals, cemeteries and TAFE; and recommends a consistent approach for the application of the controls.
9.1 Enable sustainable economic growth through the implementation of the MidCoast Regional Economic Development Strategy
9.2 Encourage transport related industries in Taree by progressing the development of the Northern Gateway Transport Hub
9.3 Utilise the connectivity of the Pacific Highway by investigating industrial precincts in proximity to the highway, for example Taree South
9.4 Pursue opportunities with the NSW Government for improved freight and tourism routes being The Lakes Way, The Bucketts Way and Thunderbolts Way
9.5 Increase medical opportunities and the vibrancy of the Taree CBD through implementation of the Manning Health/Taree CBD Precinct Plan
9.6 Build upon the Taree Regional Airport experiences by investigating industrial, housing and tourist opportunities in close proximity to the airport
9.7 Develop a consistent approach to infrastructure planning controls through implementation of the Infrastructure Zones Review
9.8 Work with the NSW Government to undertake road safety improvements, and provide safe walking and cycling connections.
9.9 Work with the NSW Government to protect the freight network from encroachment by sensitive land uses.
Relationship to other plans: Hunter Regional Plan 2036 – D4, D6, D8, D9, D10, D23, D24, D26 MidCoast 2030 Shared Vision, Shared Responsibility – L1, L2, L3, C2, CC2, GE2, GE3 Ongoing
Short term
Short term
Ongoing
Short term
Medium term
Short term
Ongoing
Ongoing
The MidCoast’s lifestyle and amenity attracts visitors to our region. With 2.2 million visitors in 2018, tourism is an important industry for the MidCoast. Destination NSW estimated that visitors to the MidCoast spent $505 million in our region, which makes tourism our largest export industry. Of the visitors, around 60% were on a holiday, 33% visited friends and relatives, and 7% visited for other reasons. The MidCoast Destination Management Plan provides a framework to guide sustainable tourism development over the next 20 years. Tourist accommodation has changed rapidly in recent years with the introduction of online booking platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz. More people are choosing to make their homes available to visitors, which on occasions can impact on nearby residents. Caravan parks are also being transformed into manufactured home estates. To provide a consistent and responsive approach to tourist accommodation, the Housing Strategy examined tourist accommodation in terms of short-term holiday letting (holiday homes), the application of the tourist zone and the changing nature of caravan parks (refer to Planning Priority 3). The use of the Tourist zone across the MidCoast has in some cases restricted the development of tourist accommodation. It is important to maintain sufficient residential zoned land to enable a range of tourist accommodation opportunities. The Urban Land Monitor will assist in keeping track of land supply and demand (refer to Planning Priority 3). Important factors for businesses investing in the MidCoast are certainty around the planning controls, flexibility to cater for innovation, and new business activities in our employment zones. The hierarchy of our centres and application of industrial zones differ across the three sets of planning controls. The planning controls have been reconsidered in the context of the MidCoast and renewed to reflect growing economic trends through the Employment Zones Review. The Review proposes a new planning framework – the aim being to ensure our employment zones are consistent, support a thriving and growing economy, have controls to encourage vibrant centres, and provide flexibility to meet our future needs.
The supply and demand of our employment-zoned land needs to be monitored to ensure there is sufficient land in the business or industrial zone to cater for future growth.
ACTIONS:
10.1 Encourage and grow tourism through the implementation of the Destination Management Plan
10.2 Work with landowners of Tourist zoned land, to examine zone options to improve tourist outcomes
10.3 Investigate opportunities to facilitate land uses that can support and enhance the tourist and visitor economy
10.4 Provide a MidCoast centre hierarchy, and consistent and renewed employment zones by implementing the Employment Zones Review
10.5 Ensure sufficient supply of employment lands by monitoring the supply and demand for land in business and industrial zones
TIMEFRAME:
Ongoing
Short term
Short term
Short term
Medium term
Relationship to other plans:
Hunter Regional Plan 2036 – D6, D9, D10, D13, D22, D24, D25 MidCoast 2030 Shared Vision, Shared Responsibility – L1, L2, L3, C1, C2, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, GE1, GE2, E2, E3
